Shasta showdown commences

Soggy conditions abound as EverStart Series Western Division anglers kick off the season-opening event on Lake Shasta

REDDING, Calif. – After a one-year hiatus, the EverStart Series is back in the Pacific Time Zone much to the delight of western anglers everywhere. However, that being said, their enthusiasm may have been tempered slightly when they awoke to this morning’s weather report. With the National Weather Service calling for constant rain showers throughout the day, anglers were forced to bundle up and prepare for some overly wet and difficult fishing conditions.

Throw in the fact that water levels have risen anywhere from 50 to 60 feet on Lake Shasta since last year’s FLW Series event and it’s clear that anglers will have their work cut out for them over the three-day event which runs from Jan. 13-15.

“At the FLW Series tournament last year the lake was probably 50 feet lower than it is right now so, in many ways, it’s like fishing an entirely new lake,” said EverStart Series pro Zack Thompson of Alameda, Calif. “Overall, the fishing has been tougher than I’ve seen it in the past. There is supposed to be a warming trend over the course of this week and the bite will probably get a little better, but it’s still going to be tough.”

EverStart Series pro Kevin Stewart of Elk Grove, Calif., agrees that the bite is a lot tougher than last season.

“The water levels are up and the bite is very different compared to last year,” said Stewart. “Right now it seems like you can pick up a fish here and a fish there but it’s tough to catch more than one fish on a particular spot. I think the key for all of us is: How is this rain going to affect the fish?”

With plenty of new variables for the anglers to contend with, anglers are going to have to adjust accordingly if they are to have any chance at securing a tournament title.

“We joke around and say that we’re (targeting) fish in anywhere from 5 to 50 feet,” said Stewart. “But honestly I’ve been catching fish in practice as deep as 75 or 100 feet. For me, I’m just going to cover a lot of water and then slow down and fish the quality spots when I find them. But my guess is that the majority of the field is going to be doing a lot of finesse fishing with plastics.”

Thompson said the new variables will affect anglers in a multitude of ways.

“The water levels are up and that’s good for the fishery, but it just reinforces how fickle this lake can be,” he said. “The higher water is going to open the lake up a lot and it’s probably going to change where the top 10 pros will be fishing as compared to other years. I think a lot of anglers will still fish finesse baits but a lot of guys will be dragging jigs in really deep water. And with the rain, I think you could see some of the bigger bites – the 4- and 5-pounders – come off reaction baits.”

So what is the target weight to make the top-10 cut?

“Ten pounds a day,” said Stewart. “Any angler who can constantly catch limits in the high 9-pound range are the ones going to make the cut.”

Thompson agrees.

“Ten pounds a day is going to be a strong weight,” said Thompson. “This lake isn’t known for big weights, especially this time of year, so if you can be consistent and stay around that 10-pound range, you should do well.”

Tourney format

During EverStart Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. The full field competes on days one and two, with the top-10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advancing to Saturday’s final round of competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Winners ultimately will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.

Anglers will take off from Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif., at 7:30 each morning. Thursday’s and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m., with Saturday’s weigh-in scheduled to take place at 3 p.m.

Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Pros will fish for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Angler of the Year title along with $5,000 for the pro and $2,000 for the co-angler. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each respective division will qualify for the EverStart Series Championship that will be held on Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.

EverStart Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. at Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif.

Bass-fishing fans take note

Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 7:32 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 46 degrees

Expected high temperature: 55 degrees

Water temperature: 48-50 degrees

Wind: From the south at 5 mph

Humidity: 92 percent

Day’s outlook: Showers throughout the day